Swimming instruction apparatus



Jan. 13; 1948. o o Hs 2,434,542

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT'OR JOSEPH N. BORROUGHS -Bx AM 7 $J4 nlv u ATTORNEY 94 8. J. N. BORROUGHS 2,434,542

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed April 18, 194-5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Elli-1:5

/ HL H G 1 I I! INVENTOR JQSEPH N. BORROUGHS av QJ WQ 11 1a was ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1948 EJNHTED STATES PATENT Q FFICE ms'rnuorms Arm-earns Jasepn-lit Borfbughs; Piedmont} one. Application April 18, 1945, Serial No.58 8,965-

6 Claims.

This invention relates toswim'rning instruction apparatus; the main object being to provide an apparatus, suitable for gymnasium installation, by means of which a erson ma be" taught; or can practice, various swimmi 'g strokes, while in a swimming position and without the use of water.

Fig, 1 is a perspective viewer the apparatus with a student in an operative position therein, so as to practice various swimming strokes on his own initiative; or under the" tutelage of an instructor.

Fig. 2 is an endview roller unit.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig; 4 is a side view' of one of the swivelly mounted hand-supporting frame units.

Fig. .5 is a transverse view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse View of the unit, showing different positions of the flexibly mounted hand-supporting glove.

Fig. 8 is a perspective plan of the frame unit, with a swimmer engaged therein;-

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body supporting belt.

Referring to the numerals of reference on the drawings, the apparatus comprises a main supporting frame which includes base members, standards 2 upstanding from members I, and a top bar 3 connecting the standards. Standards 2 are spaced apart a distance greater than the height of any person.

Longitudinally spaced hanger-hooks 4 are supported by and depend from bar 3 intermediate its ends, these hooks disengageably supporting a bar 5. A rigid shaft 6 is supported by bar a short distance below and parallel to the bar; the shaft supporting a pair of separate spools I which are turnable and slidable on the shaft. The spools in turn support separate flexible belts 8 adapted to surround the abdomen and hips of a student; the belts being split lengthwise and their split edges being detachably connected by lacing, hooks or other suitable means.

A short rigid stub shaft 9 projects rearwardly from the front standard 2, this shaft turnably supporting a light but rigid transverse rectangular frame I!) from the corners of which horizontal rods II project rearwardly.

Flexible cords I2 extend diagonally between the front and rear ends of the rods H on the same side; the cords radiating from and being connected to a ring l3 located in the plane of intersection of the cords. Gloves it are secured of a supporting but and iii theri'ng's in iate' rany' prcjecting opposed relation to each other". The transverse spacing of the airs of rods H and eonsequenu the cords I2 and gloves l li's's'uch that the arms of a' stildent whose hands ar'e'erigag'e'd in the gloves, will be; substantially outstretched; as shbWn'ifi' Figf 8.

A similar stub sh'aft' l5proj'ect's'forwardl'y from the rear standard 2 on substantially the same level astheshaft' 9} this shaft l'5tur'riab1y supporting a transverse frame 16. Rods IT project forwardly from the corners of thisjfr'al'rie and support diago'nalfiexible' cords IB' from theplari e of the point of intersection of which shoes, It or similar foot receiving members project" laterally'out. v v

A rope- ZD issecured onthe" rear end of bare and extends upwardly to and about a pulley 2"] on bar 3; andithenc forwardly to and'overanotherpulley 22' and downwardly toa termination to'one'fsideofframe' lllf g I'ftlie'ap'arat'us' is'installed out in' the open ihstead of agymnasium; a tent" 23havirig'a'ven'- tilatingfiuefl-maybe placed over theappalatus.

Toplacehimself in the apparatus; the student first r'eiiio've s bar 5 from hooks 4; and straps belts a looselyabout hlst-runk or body; Trierorward end of bar 5 is then engaged with the front hook 4, and the rear end of the bar is then rerear hook by pulling on rope 20. The student then places his hands in gloves I 4, and his feet in shoes IS. The student is thus disposed in a well-supported horizontal position and free to move the arms and legs thru different swimming strokes; the cords i2 and I8 being sufficiently slack to allow of a certain amount of lateral movement of the hands and feet, as indicated in Fig. 7.

If the student wishes to practice a side crawl, or a back stroke, he need only to twist his body in or with the belts, the rotatable mounting of the latter facilitating this operation as will be evident.

Since the frames l0 and I6 are freely turnable on horizontal axes substantially in alinement with the axis of belts 8, the student may also turn his arms and legs sideways, or to an inverted position, simultaneously with the corresponding turning movements of the body.

I claim:

1. A swimming instructive apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards, frame units supported from the standards in facing relation to each other for independent turning on a horizontal axis, transversely separated members on One unit to engage the hand of a student in a swimming posture, similarly disposed members on the other unit to engage the feet of the student and means supported from the frame intermediate the frame units to support the body of the student.

2. A swimming instructive apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards, frame units supported from the standards in facing relation to each other for independent turning on a horizontal axis, transversely separated members on one unit to engage the hands of a student in a swimming posture, similarly disposed members on the other unit to engage the feet of the student and means supported from the frame intermediate the frame units to support the body of the student in which said means comprises a flexible body surrounding belt; with means mounting the belt for rotation about a horizontal aXis above the body,

3. A swimming instruction apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards, frame units supported from the standards in facing relation to each other for independent turning on a horizontal axis, transversely separated members on one unit to engage the hands of a student in a swimming posture, similarly disposed members on the other unit to engage the feet of the student and means supported from the frame 5. A swimming instruction apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards and a top bar connecting the standards; a body engaging belt, means detachably supporting the belt from the bar in a substantially horizontal position, members supported from one standard to engage the hands of a belt-supported person in a swimming posture, and members supported from the other standard to engage the feet of the person while in such posture with means mounting the members individually for limited lateral lay.

6. A swimming instruction apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards,

intermediate the frame units to support the body of the student in which said means comprises a relatively large-diameter body surrounding belt, a roller on which the belt is hung, and a horizontal shaft supported from the frame and on which the roller is turnable.

4. A swimming instruction apparatus comprising a frame which includes spaced end standards and a top bar connecting the standards; a body engaging belt, means detachably supporting the belt from the bar in a substantially horizontal position, and means associated with said bar adapted to raise said detachably supporting means into position; means supported from one standard to engage the hands of a belt-supported person in a swimming posture, and members sup ported from the other standard to engage the feet of the person while in such posture.

frame units supported from the standards in fac- -ing relation to each other for independent turning on a horizontal axis, transversely separated 'members on one unit to engage the hands of a student in a swimming posture, similarly disposed members on the other unit to engage the feet of the student and means supported from the frame intermediate the frame units to support the body of the student in which each frame unit comprises a rectangular transversely extending frame, the corresponding standard having a horizontal stub shaft on which the frame is turnable, rods projecting horizontally from the corners of the frame in a direction away from said standard, and flexible cords disposed in crossing relation and extending between opposite ends of the rods on each side of the frame, a rigid ring secured to the cords in the plane of their intersection; the corresponding members of said unit being mounted in the rings.

JOSEPH N. BORROUGHS.

Country Date Germany May 11, 1894 Number 

